Ohio

Ohio

(Updated Dec. 21, 2016)

HB 476 was signed into law by Gov. Kasich on Dec. 19. The law prohibits Ohio from contracting with for-profit entities for supplies, equipment, or services, unless the contract declares that the company does not engage in discriminatory boycotts of Israel.

Remember

These bills are the result of a campaign to suppress Palestine human rights activism in the U.S. Israel's interest in restricting this activism should not override our right to advocate for change.

The good news is that your right to engage in boycotts related to Israeli human rights abuses and to advocate for BDS is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. None of the bills and resolutions described here prohibit you from engaging in BDS activities.

Whatever your views on Israel and Palestine, these bills should be of concern because they threaten the rights of everyone in the U.S. to take collective action to address injustice. Moreover, we should all be alarmed that a foreign government, Israel, is lobbying U.S. politicians to restrict our rights.